WBW#12 Drink Local. Real Local

Man...what I hard time I had deciding how to approach this. I fortunately live so close to wine country, that I had lots of options. I live about 40 minutes from Livermore and about 45 minutes from Napa, so I picked the closer.

I chose this beauty, which I have been keeping in my cellar for the last 3 years. I was going to open a Marietta's Well Meritage, but that is just too famous for this tasting. I wanted to feature someone that deserves a little more attention than the Wente-owned Murietta's Well.

Thomas Coyne has been a fixture on the oft-overlooked Livermore Valley wine scene since 1989. Thomas is a cheerful man, usually spotted donning a Penn State hat (go Nittany Lions!) with an extremely rustic setting in which to taste and visit. He'll be happy to pour a glass of his wines, many of which are excellent values. I bought this wine so long ago, I forgot what I paid for it, but the new release of the same wine is only $12.00. I'm not sure I've had many bigger $12.00 wines! If you're going to visit Livermore, make sure you don't miss Steven Kent's amazing cabs.

This bottle: Color - the paleness gives the age away. Deep in the center, lighter on the edges. Just ready to drink.Nose: brambles and blackberries, smells like a Northern Rhone, ever so slightly herbaceousTaste: spicy, dense raspberries, blackberries and cocoaFinish: long and lovelyFood paring: BBQ Tri-tip with yoghurt sauce, Green bean, tubetti and feta saladPrice: unbelieveable at $12.00

Repeat buy? This wine is gone, but I'll try to pick up some 2001 and put it down for a few years now that I know this wine's potential. Seek it out!